Vermont – March 4, 1791
State #14 | Brock’s World: Truth with a Twist
Vermont didn’t join the Union quietly.
It entered like someone who had already proven they didn’t need it.
Before March 4, 1791, Vermont wasn’t part of the United States at all. For fourteen years, it operated as its own independent republic — complete with its own constitution, its own courts, and even its own currency.
Small state.
Unmistakably independent.
🌲 When the Mountains Chose Sides
In the mid-1700s, both New York and New Hampshire claimed the land that would become Vermont. Settlers who had purchased property under New Hampshire grants were suddenly told by New York authorities that their deeds were invalid — and that they owed money.
Imagine building your farm… only to be told it isn’t yours.
The response wasn’t paperwork.
It was resistance.
Enter the Green Mountain Boys — a rugged, locally organized militia led by the fiery Ethan Allen.
They weren’t polished soldiers. They were farmers, woodsmen, and frontiersmen who knew the terrain better than anyone else. Their mission was simple: defend local landowners from outside control.
They intimidated surveyors. Drove off officials. Made it clear that Vermont would not be managed from afar.
And then came their defining moment.
On May 10, 1775 — before the Declaration of Independence — Allen and his men crossed Lake Champlain at dawn and demanded the British surrender Fort Ticonderoga.
Allen is said to have declared:
“In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!”
The British garrison, caught off guard and barely awake, surrendered.
Why does that matter?
Because the fort’s cannons were later transported to Boston and used to force the British evacuation of the city.
A frontier militia from the Green Mountains helped tip the Revolutionary War.
That’s not small-state energy.
That’s strategic backbone.
🗺️ A Republic of Its Own
In 1777, Vermont took a bold step.
It declared itself independent — not just from Britain, but from New York and New Hampshire as well.
It drafted its own constitution — one of the most progressive in North America at the time — becoming the first to prohibit adult slavery.
For fourteen years, Vermont governed itself as the Vermont Republic.
It minted coins.
Established courts.
Negotiated diplomatically.
It wasn’t chaos.
It was functioning independence.
💰 The Price of Admission
So how did this independent republic finally become the 14th state?
Not by surrender.
By negotiation.
New York still claimed the territory and objected to Vermont’s admission. The dispute centered on land titles. To clear the obstacle, Vermont agreed to pay New York $30,000 to settle the claims once and for all.
Consider it a buy-out of interference.
With the land dispute resolved and its constitution already structured, Congress approved Vermont’s entry.
On March 4, 1791, Vermont became:
- The first state admitted after the original thirteen
- The first formerly independent republic to join the Union
- A free state from the moment it entered
Vermont didn’t ask to be reshaped.
It joined on its own terms.
🍁 The Modern Vermont Spirit
Today, that independent streak still defines Vermont.
Its capital, Montpelier, is the smallest state capital in the nation — because Vermont doesn’t equate size with influence.
Maple syrup production isn’t just agriculture — it’s heritage. Covered bridges aren’t tourist props — they’re preserved craftsmanship. The Green Mountains aren’t decoration — they’re identity.
Vermont remains intentional. Thoughtful. Slightly different.
And perfectly comfortable that way.
✈️ Experience Vermont’s Story
If Vermont’s independent spirit calls to you, you can explore its history, landscapes, and maple traditions through guided experiences across the state.
From fall foliage drives to historic walking tours and countryside tastings, there are countless ways to see the Green Mountain State up close.
👉 Discover Vermont experiences here
💭 Final Thought
Vermont didn’t wait to be invited to the American story.
It wrote its own chapter first.
And when it joined the Union, it did so not as a follower — but as a proven original.
And in Brock’s World, that’s the truth — with just the right amount of twist. 🍁
